Wines

2016 Shiraz Viognier

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Tasting

The Shiraz Viognier is our flagship, a careful selection of the best of the Shiraz Viognier parcels we craft from our Murrumbateman vineyard.

The 2016 vintage was generous and early. Late summer temperatures were consistently warmer than average and a larger than average crop proved to be a double blessing, slowing the ripening, which would have otherwise raced ahead, and filling the fermenters in our newly expanded winery with some of the most opulent, spice laden, dark berry fruit we have seen. A powerful vintage with great cellaring potential. 6% co-fermented viognier.

14% Alc/Vol

Reviews

When I tasted the upcoming release of the 2016 Shiraz Viognier, I was as transfixed as Kirk had been. It’s true that I had been enraptured by the 2015 (and the ’13, the ’12, the ’09, ’08, ’07…). It is among

the very greatest Australian red wines

with a character all its own....the perfumed, spicy bouquet with red flowers and fruits doesn't prepare you for the intensity and piercing length of the beautifully balanced medium-bodied palate.

This is a truly glorious wine

that draws you back again and again to explore the wealth of red fruit flavours, and the majesty of its textures and flavours.

James Halliday

This is a shiraz viognier of the highest order with desperate purity of white pepper, whole bunch mixed spice and plum skin, and a super fine, gravelly tannin structure of

The three most important – for want of a better word – pillars of Australian shiraz are arguably Penfolds Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace and Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier, with apologies to Tyrrell’s and Mount Pleasant, among others. Given the extraordinary run of quality of Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier over the past (nearly) 20 years it made me wonder, as I consumed a glass or two of this soon-to-be-released 2016, just how far Clonakilla is likely to reach into the mainstream Australian psyche. Will Clonakilla SV ever reach Hill of Grace status in mainstream fame terms? On quality, it should do so. On style, I suspect not. It’s just not big and obvious enough.

The three most important...pillars of Australian shiraz are arguably Penfolds Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace and Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier

Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier has lost none of its charm or power over the years, but it has become a lighter, more elegant and more finely drawn wine. The subtle change is clearly evident with this 2016. For a long time we’ve played with the term Burgundian Shiraz, especially in relation to Clonakilla, but the phrase is becoming increasingly apt. This wine is light on its feet,

perfumed, exotic, marshalled with fruit and spice

and tannic. It doesn’t wallop you upfront; it saves itself for the finish. It’s not an impetuous wine. There are candied notes here, dry spices, woody anise, a whisper of peppercorn. I would almost describe this wine as crisp, such is its lack of gloop, its finesse, its cleansing run of flavour-infused acidity. This release will age magnificently.

Campbell Mattinson

Shiraz Viognier

Celebrating 20 Years of Shiraz Viognier

Encouraged by his son Jeremy to try something new & rare, John Kirk planted the white grape Viognier in his … Read…